Air agitated disc washer



5, 9 T. E. LOCKERBIE 3, 0

AIR AGITATED DISC WASHER Filed Aug. 19, 1964 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. LOCKERBHZ AT T Q RNEY United States Patent 3,285,780 AIR AGITATED DISC WASHER Thomas E. Lockerbie, 68 East St., Edrneston, N.Y. Filed Aug. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 390,665 2 Claims. (Cl. 134102) This invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and more specifically to a washer for cleaning separator equipment in a creamery.

During the processing of raw milk into consumer products in a creamery, a mineral deposit called milk stone is left on the equipment, and this deposit is extremely difficult to remove. Typical of such equipment is the centrifuge for the separator or the clarifier, which contains a disc assembly. The discs which form the assembly are really cone shaped members which are arranged in numerical sequence. A most important consideration during the cleaning of the disc assembly is not to disturb the numerical sequence of the discs or distort the discs or their disc shaft.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a washer particularly adapted for receiving the disc assembly of a centrifuge and for maintaining the discs in numerical sequence and without damage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for washing the disc assembly by a vigorous turbulent scrubbing action brought about by a unique feature of the invention.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for handling the discs before and after washing with the least amount of manual handling and with the least amount of shifting and the like of the discs to prevent their becoming scratched or bent.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, there is provided a washer for centrifuge discs comprising a wash tank, an air manifold disposed in the tank, and means for receiving the disc assembly in undisturbed order, and for maintaining that order throughout the washing cycle. 7

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed specification, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the washer assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical adapter plate as used to accommodate various type or model disc assemblies.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the locking bar portion of the washer for maintaining the disposition of the discs within their assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, a suitable tank 10 may be formed of stainless steel as is conventional in the art, and may be supported on any legs 11. An inlet fitting may be disposed on one end of the tank 10 for receiving water or wash solution from any source S. A drain opening may also be provided as at D for draining the tank.

Disposed within the tank 10, and preferably along the bottom thereof is a manifold 12, comprising a pipe which may be connected to a source of air pressure, generally indicated by the letter P. It would be understood that the source of air pressure would be a substantially conventional pump and thus is not illustrated. The manifold 12 is provided with a plurality of holes along its length forming outlet means for releasing air upwardly into the solution in the tank, as will appear.

Secured to the sides of the tank 10 near one end and intermediate the top and bottom is a pair of pivot supports 9. Each such support comprises a plate welded or the like to the side of the tank and formed with a U- shaped notch or saddle opening therein for receiving the end of a pivotal bar or pipe.

3,285,780 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 A transverse pivot bar 22 is disposed pivotally within the tank 10 with its ends resting in the notches of the pivot supports 9. A fixture base 15 it attached to the pivot bar 22. The fixture base 15 comprises a bar-shaped member adapted to receive a fixture plate as will appear, and is welded or the like nearone end to substantially the center of the pivot bar 22. Welded to the other end of the fixture base 15 to form an integral part thereof, is a tubular fixture positioning post 18 which, as shown in FIG. 1, lies substantially parallel to the bottom of the tank 10 and extends toward the far end of the tank from the upper end of the fixture base 15. Fixed to the outer end of the fixture positioning post 18 is a fixed locking bar 16, shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The locking bar 16 may be secured to the end of the post 18 as by welding or the like. Threaded studs 23 are threaded into tapped holes in the ends of the locking bar 16 :and are secured therein by means of locknuts, as will appear.

A disc carrier extension 19 is adapted to be inserted into the post 18. The extension 19 comprises a generally U- shaped member near one end of which is fastened a collar 19A. A swivel locking bar 17 is substantially freely disposed along the extension 19 near the collar 19A such that the collar prevents the bar 17 from sliding off the end of the extension. The swivel locking bar 17 has arcuate slots formed therein for receiving the ends of the threaded studs 23, as will appear. Near the U bend of the extension 19, any suitable support post 20 and lifting handle may be fastened to facilitate lifting of the entire assembly of components and to support the assembly in position within the tank 10, as will appear. The support post 20 has formed therein a slot, and a guide rod 21 is adapted to be secured in the slot so that the rod 21 extends parallel to the legs of the extension 19.

Now, it is to be understood that the washer according to this invention will be used in various creameries for the washing of the disc stack assemblies 8 such as are to be found in several different models of separators and clarifiers, all as produced by several different manufacturers. It will therefore be obvious that these models will have variations in the form of the disc carrier and disc shaft. That is to say, each stack of discs is maintained in its own equipment by a disc carrier, which is merely a base member for the bottom-most disc; and a disc shaft, which is a central member for maintaining the discs in position.

vention is that it is not limited to any particular disc stack assembly. FIG. 2 illustrates an adapter plate 14 typical of the several slightly different adapter plates which permit the washer to receive any disc stack assembly 8. Basically, a preferred embodiment of any adapter plate 14 provides sufficient support legs (in this case, three) and the necessary lugs or other extensions from the rear face of the plate 14 for engaging the afore-' mentioned disc carrier. Alignment pins 14A may be secured to the face of the adapter plate 14 as by welding, for being received in corresponding holes in the fixture base 15.

. One other consideration for adapting the washer of this invention to any disc stack assembly is the adapter plug 13 disposed on the end of the extension 19. The plug 13 installs merely by threading same into corresponding threads in the end of the extension 19. Adapter plug 13 simply provides means for connecting the disc carrier extension 19 detachably to the top end of the disc shaft of the disc stack assembly.

In describing the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the disc assembly 8 shown in FIG. 1 is not yet in place, nor is the disc carrier extension 19 or adapter plate 14.

The fixture base 15, together with the pivot bar 22 and the positioning post 18 are rotated about the axis of the pivot bar to a vertical position (not shown) in the direction of arrowA. The adapter plate 14 is placed on the fixture base 15 by placing the alignment pins 14A in the corresponding holes. The disc stack assembly 8 is lowered onto the adapter plate. This is usually done with a mechanical hoist due to the weight of the disc assembly. The lugs :and the like of the adapter plate 14 are thus engaged with the disc carrier 8A.

The guide rod 21 is now inserted completely through one of the disc stack holes. The disc carrier extension 19 is thence installed so that one leg is inserted into the fixture positioning post 18 until the other leg with adapter plug 13 thereon becomes engaged with the top end of the disc shaft, not shown. The swivel locking bar 17 is now rotated (see FIG. 3) so that the threaded studs 23 are in the arcuate slots and the wingnuts on the studs 23 are tightened. This urging of the bar 17 :against collar 19A thus locks the extension 19 detachably to the fixture base and also urges the adapter plug 13 tightly against the disc shaft.

The guide rod 21 may be fastened to the support 20 in predetermined position so that the installation of the rod 21 will be automatic with the installation of the extension 19.

The entire assembly of components is thence lowered oppositely to the direction of arrow A so that everything is in the position of FIG. 1 within the tank 10. The operator may then grasp the discs and spread them along the lower leg of the extension 19 for better washing exposure.

During the washing cycle, hot water is conventionally introduced into the tank from source S, and some type of non-foaming detergent is used. However, conventional mechanical agitation not only would take longer for cleaning the mineral deposit from the discs, but is not always the best cleaning action in the first place.

This invention therefore contemplates the use of a greatly improved washing agitation. A vigorous, turbulent scrubbing action is set up in the hot wash solution. This action is brought about by lain-agitation. A tremendous volume of low-pressure air is made available in the manifold 12 from the source pump P. This tremendous volume of air is' thus introduced near the bottom of the tank in the wash solution through the holes in the manifold 12. Since the air bubbles naturally rise in the solution, they travel among all the discs and extend the turbulence of the solution between adjacent discs. The air-agitation further aids in carrying away any loosened deposit from inbetween adjacent discs. Moreover, the air bubbles do not set up any fixed pattern of turbulence, but rather they provide a constantly changing pattern of current as the solution is caused to flow about the discs.

This represents a great improvement over conventional mechanical agitation, inasmuch as mechanical means can only agitate the solution at some point removed from the discs, and only a fixed current flow of solution can be achieved among the discs. With the air-agitation principle and application according to this invention, there is not a spot of area on any disc that is not subjected to the turbulent scrubbing action.

Following the usual rinsing cycle the entire assembly of components is again raised in the direction of arrow A, permitting each disc to slide back down into its proper position in numerical sequence in the stack. It should be noted that no manual positioning of the discs is required at this point, thus fulfilling one of the objects of the invention and thereby minimizing the possibility of damage to the discs. The disc stack assembly is then removed and returned to the separator or clarifier by reversing the installation procedure described hereinabove. Small fittings such as stainless steep pipe elbows and valves and the like may be Washed at the same time as the discs by placing them in the tank 10 in any suitable wire basket, not shown.

It will be understood that the invention may be constructed in multiple units. That is to say, a tank may be constructed substantially twice as wide, with fixtures for accommodating two disc stack assemblies, and so on.

A preferred embodiment having been described for the purpose of illustration only, it is to be understood that the invention is to be construed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for washing the disc stack of a centrifuge comprising a tank, first means for introducing a Washing solution in said tank, and an air manifold disposed near the bottom of the said tank, said manifold having means formed therein for releasing volumes of low-pressure air into the washing solution, and second means for receiving the disc stack as an undisturbed assembly, said second means comprising a fixture base pivotally disposed in said tank, 18.11 adapter plate carried by said fixture base, a disc carrier extension and means for locking said extension detachably to said fixture base, and an adapter plug connecting said extension to the disc stack.

2. Washing apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a washing solution, a transverse pivot bar carried by said tank, a fixture base including a positioning post fastened to said pivot bar for rotation about the axis of said bar, a detachable adapter plate carried by said base adapted to receive a disc stack, a disc carrier extension detachably locked to the positioning post and engaged with a disc stack on said adapter plate for holding a disc stack, and an air manifold disposed along the bottom of said tank for introducing large volumes of low-pressure air into the wash solution.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,016,487 2/1912 Freer 134-94 1,406,599 2/1922 Wilson 134- 94 1,914,016 6/1933 Hobi 134-94 2,221,803 11/ 1940 Krobusek l34171 X 2,225,501 12/1940 Lapham et a1. 134-=152 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. R. L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner. 

2. WASHING APPARATUS COMPRISING A TANK ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A WASHING SOLUTION, A TRANSVERSE PIVOT BAR CARRIED BY SAID TANK, A FIXTURE BASE INCLUDING A POSITIONING POST FASTENED TO SAID PIVOT BAR FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID BAR, A DETACHABLE ADAPTER PLATE CARRIER BY SAID BASE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A DISC STACK, A DISC CARRIER EXTENSION DETACHABLY LOCKED TO THE POSITIONING POST AND ENGAGED WITH A DISC STACK ON SAID ADAPTER PLATE FOR HOLDING A DISC STACK, AND AN AIR MANIFOLD DISPOSED ALONG THE BOTTOM OF SAID TANK FOR INTRODUCING LARGE VOLUMES OF LOW-PRESSURE AIR INTO THE WASH SOLUTION. 